Rep. Mary Bono Mack is standing behind her famous stepson, Chaz Bono, as he transitions from female to male.[IMGCAP(1)]The California Republican, the widow of Bono’s father, former Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Calif.), tells People Magazine that “Chaz has always been a loving and important part of our family who has supported us all through thick and thin.— “This is a very difficult decision that Chaz has fully vetted, and over the past decade, [he] has discussed the matter thoroughly and consulted therapists and medical experts,— Bono Mack continues. “As he moves forward, I will be there to support him and love him every step of the way.—Chaz Bono is the child of Sonny Bono and his second wife, the entertainer Cher. And although Sonny Bono died in 1998, Bono Mack and Chaz Bono, formerly known as Chastity, have remained close — in both good and bad times.In an interview with People published in February, Bono Mack and her son, Chesare, discussed how Chaz Bono helped Chesare battle (and eventually beat) an addiction to prescription painkillers.“I tried to be as supportive as possible,— Bono, who conquered his own addiction to painkillers in 2004, told People. “We’d talk three or four times a day.—Can’t get enough HOH? Get a midday dose of fun and gossip with HOH’s One-Minute Recess, delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here — because everyone deserves more recess.